This afternoon, I had been checking some student projects, driving and thinking.  As I pulled back into the house, the Dragon Lady was placing a sprinkler in the front yard.  One of those little sprinklers that just shoots a cone of water up & into the air.  No moving parts.  This provoked numerous thoughts through my skull. 

     First, I wish that I had been the one to patent such a simple thought and simple tool.  

     Second, this has been an abnormally moist summer in NW OK.  She hasn’t had to run a sprinkler much, if at all.  In the garden, yes.  But, the buffalo grass lawn has managed to stay green all summer and here we are nearing the end of August.  

      And third, I remember being at a goat sale in June of 2011.  It was HOT!!!   WAY effing hot!   It was in Junction, TX at the fairgrounds.  Corrugated tin roof on top of the fairgrounds.  I don’t remember the exact temperature but it was well over 110 degrees F.  And the F stood for effing HOT!   They had placed two of those cone shaped sprinklers on top of the tin roof and was just letting the water run.  Anything helps.  Mikey Thompson, Allan Poe, Braden Schovanec and myself rolled into this set of goats and started perusing the offering.  Mikey asked what I thought of the set.  I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and said, “I’m buying 1 and done.” 

He said, “There is one that you want or there is just one worth buying?” 

 I said, “I’m buying 1 and I AM DONE!”   He said. “Lot 1?”    I replied, “Yes, lot 1.  He’s good enough to win a division at Tulsa.”

      The auction started.  I had my running shoes on and was planning on having to spend some jack for this wether.  I also had sweat running in my eyes and down the crack of my butt.   The bidding on lot 1 started and I waited to bid.  The bids stalled at $700.  I bid, then bid, then bid and then bid until I had bought lot 1.  For $1,300.  I watched the sale until lot 4 sold and then I paid out and went to my pickup and sat in the AC.  It wasn’t long until the rest joined me in the pickup.  I should have stayed hooked on lot 4 a bit longer.  But the heat was clouding my judgement.  I bought what I wanted and I was done.  I made Braden go load the goat. 

      Lot 1 was the first Yogi kid ever born.  He was a bit big for the sale offering as he was a Feb. born wether at a June sale.  He wasn’t cute at that time and he was also a bit skinny but the parts were there.  That goat did go on to win a division at Tulsa.  And also, be named the grand wether at Tulsa 2011 for Halie Schovanec.  Yes, a decade ago.  Lot 4 was bought by some dude named Glen.  That goat went on to be grand or reserve at KC that year.  I always liked feeding a Bob Allen goat or two.  I’m not alone.  Just a random memory triggered by a sprinkler.  

      Back then, good genetics combined with a proper feed program and a stellar showman is how banners were hung.  Now, hell, I’ll be honest.  It’s been a couple of years since I fought the good fight OR hung a big banner.  I’ve just been in ag teaching mode.  I will tell you this—the ag teacher waters (not a parent who is also an ag teacher route) are way safer, cheaper and morally easier to navigate than the hyper-competitive, breeder, jock, parent waters that currently reside in today’s major show rings.  Actually, that statement is wrong.  These waters are harder if trying to be successful in the show ring.   

      Recently, I was discussing goals with a stock show family.  I had a parent ask me what it took to win a major show today.  I truly answered, I’m not sure.  Their next question staggered me but made me think.

      “Is the quality of animal as important as who the breeder/fitter is behind it?”  I answered that depends on who is judging.  I’m not wrong with this assessment.  

      Then they asked this.  “Is it more important to have the right air pump, feed additives or a social media presence with a given animal and showman?”   Uhh, ooff, I got nothing.  

      This dad continued, “I trust your judgement of livestock and ability to feed any animal.  But, I’m afraid that there is more to it and I don’t want my kid(s) to be a part of the extra-curriculars.”  Dude, I get it.  Neither do I. 

      Damn!!!   These questions are getting harder to answer.  

      I don’t know of a simple way to fix all the problems.  The quickest way to fix it–simple.  Get some LIVESTOCK judges with balls.  Doesn’t matter if they are male or female.  Get some judges that like good stock, not counterfeit, no politics and that’s it!!  

      I only know how we will feed goats in Shattuck.  Which means nothing in the rest of the world.  We will feed and show for Woodward District.  That is our main objective.  Budgets, study genetics, proper feeding and try to out-show the others.  That’s it.  We will get along.  Some years better than others.  Like Buckwheat says, “It will be O-TAY!!      OYE?  Well as much as I have loved watching our kids/friends/students in that grand drive, as an ag teacher and a has-been, I guess we will just stick to our guns and hope for the best.  It is what it is.  

      I’m not bitching, whining or complaining.  I’m just stating real world statements about the show industry.  You can say that I am old, out of touch or past my prime.  You would be mostly correct.  But at least we had a prime and our prime lasted for more than a decade and most likely was better than any of your prime.  OOOHHH!!!!  I can sense the hostility inside me starting to boil.  Turn the burner down.  No matter what you think of me, I do have my finger on the pulse of the general public.  And even though, all of us in the industry want to know about the high $ ones and the winners, the general public is who buys 90% PLUS of all show stock.  They are the $200 to $2,000 market.  If you lose that market…….only a breeder will understand that value.  They pay the bills.  The Lamborghini buyers make it fun. 

       In other words, our system is upside down.  Much like our government.  The breeders/fitters/judges worry about the high end market.  Yet, the majority of the market is funded by blue collar people with a budget.  Sure, there are exceptions.  

      Basically, we just need a sprinkler to wash away the old and bring some new life into the system.  I’m just not sure that we have good enough sprinklers.  So, I will just be happy and keep on keeping on.  Cheers!  And have a good one.  If any of this offends you, so what.  I’m right.  

     Sometimes, I write too much.  Other times, not enough.  Not sure where tonight lands.  Don’t care.  It can be hazardous trying to worry about crossing a line.  But, it’s like she said, “Turn the damn music down!”   And that is how to know when it’s done.